A retirement village, like our beautiful Mountain View, doesn’t stay afloat without good management. Management from the top level is important, but good management where it counts, down at the grassroots level, is vital.

Retirement villages are full of … well … older people. Ours is no different. And older people have very set ways and strong opinions. We are no different.

So how does someone who isn’t old enough to live in a retirement village, manage a retirement village?

Easy.

They have patience to spare, and they ooze calm. They can talk two people with completely opposite views, down from the same precipitous ledge, simultaneously,

Our fabulous manager, David P, who held the managerial reins for as long as I’ve lived here (almost nine years at time of writing), had all those qualities, and more.

David’s feet were planted firmly on the ground; nothing seemed to faze him. He dealt with the usual things a manager attends to in the course of a day, as well as a lot of extra little things.

You never know how much a person does, until they stop doing it.

All good things must come to an end,

and even the best relationships don’t last forever.

David called the Strata Committee to an urgent meeting and gave us the news that none of us saw coming, expected, or wanted to hear.

After much deliberation and serious thought, David had decided to leave Mountain View and explore another chapter in his life.

It’s what younger people (than us) do; they change jobs. Older people, like me, had one career all their working life; younger generations don’t operate that way – they seek change – some do it often, others, not so often.

Change is inevitable, but not always easy

After ten years at the helm, David decided it was time to move on. And we get that – the management job is stressful – and we’re very lucky to have had David as long as we did. But the time to say goodbye was now on a much nearer horizon.

David gave four-weeks notice, and that’s when the Strata Committee’s steep learning curve kicked in. Knowing that the process for selecting a new manager would be lengthy, we started learning more about the in-depth procedures for keeping our village running until a new manager was appointed. The company was going to provide a temporary manager, but we knew they wouldn’t be full-time because they also manage another large village, and besides, they don’t know our village, and our residents.

So the learning began in earnest with lots of meetings with David, while also preparing, at least emotionally, for the sad day of his departure.

The end of a Mountain View era

And that sad day dawned on the 6th of September. At a farewell event the day before, tears were shed and memories shared, as residents old and new gathered to say goodbye.

On his last day, David made a final victory lap through the village in the trusty buggy, and then he was gone. He has moved on to hopefully bigger and better things because change is always good, right? But change is also hard to accept, the older we get.

We wished David well in the new phase of his life, just as we wish Tony well in the new phase of his life, as our new manager.

A new era has begun at Mountain View Retirement Village.

Thank you, David, and Welcome, Tony

… written by someone who is doing it.

My previous posts were about the committees at Mountain View and the difference they make, but there’s a whole lot more to a great retirement village than how well committees work together.

The Queensland Government defines an age-friendly community as “one that enables people of all ages to actively participate in community life by ensuring older people are free from age-related barriers that prevent participation and engagement“.

So how does Mountain View stack up as an age-friendly community?

I’ll get to that, but first, let’s get a few myths out of the way.

Living in a retirement village is restrictive

Yes, there are by-laws and guidelines, but try living in any community without rules and let me know how that goes. The by-laws are in place to ensure a peaceful life for everyone, but they are neither harsh nor unconscionable (as per the legislation). Your unit or apartment might be yours, but common property is shared by all – just like the roads and streets we drive on. Can you imagine how long we’d last without road rules? The same goes for common property. We need rules to make sure everyone enjoys a peaceful life.

Retirement villages are full of old people

You only have to be fifty five to buy a unit at Mountain View, but tell a fifty-five-year-old they’re old, and I don’t think it will end well. At the other end of the age spectrum, some of our residents have celebrated their 100th birthdays and are still doing well. Last year I spotted ninety-nine-year-old Audrey walking up the stairs to attend a function – yes, there is an elevator, but Audrey preferred the stairs. Age is just a number, but I reckon where you live has an impact on how well you spend your final rotations around the sun.

Did I mention my neighbour, Noeline, and how she flew to Perth a few years ago to pick up her new campervan (the Dove)? Noeline drove the Dove across the Nullarbor and back to Murwillumbah, on her own. And did I mention Noeline was in her eighties at the time? At time of writing, Noeline is camping in the Dove somewhere in Central Queensland. She isn’t home much since she bought that campervan.

I’m not ready to retire yet

I know this one well. That’s exactly what I said when I first visited Mountain View in 2015. I was sixty-five at the time and still working very long hours in a job I loved. My first day back at work was a doozy – full on – and stressful, and I thought, ‘to heck I’m not ready to retire!’. I flew back from Central Queensland – looked at units (with a new perspective) and put in an offer on the very unit I’m writing from now. Buying a unit in Mountain View fast-tracked my feasible (financial) retirement date by a few years. And trust me, getting used to retirement is easier than it looks. I’m still leading a productive and busy life – but on my terms, not somebody else’s.

But I can’t Take my pet

Yes you can. New legislation prohibits blanket bans on residents having pets. You have to apply to the Strata Committee to have a pet, but that’s as much for your convenience as the village. If you have a medical emergency, management needs to know who to contact to collect your fur-or-feathered friend until you are well. The likelihood of your application being denied is pretty slim at Mountain View (unless you want a horse, or camel).

So, now we have some myths out of the way, let’s explore Mountain View in depth.

It’s all about independence

My home in Mountain View is situated on twenty-eight acres of beautiful bushland, so there is no shortage of wildlife and nature around us. We are high enough not to be impacted when the Tweed River floods; in the shadow of Wollumbin – Mt Warning; and close enough to town for shopping and medical appointments.

I share my life in this community with almost three-hundred others who have reached their senior years. I don’t know all their names, but I know a lot of faces. And then there are some I meet for the first time, despite each of us having lived here more than five years. And that’s what makes this place unique, you can participate – or not. Some close the door on their working life and prefer to stay behind that closed door, and that’s fine. Retirement is meant to be done your way – not someone else’s.

The majority of units that make up Mountain View are known as Independent Living Units (ILUs). Picture the home you are in now, and imagine it in a community of like-minded people, where decisions made can affect all. We are independent of each other, but connected in many ways. You are as independent as you would be in any home in suburbia, except you have a connection to others in the village by virtue of common property that is shared by all.

Hate cooking? (yep!)

The other half of the equation of living at Mountain View is a supported apartment in The Lodge. I’ve got my eye on an apartment in The Lodge for when I’m over cooking for myself, or struggling (I mean really struggling) to put a fitted sheet on my bed. It is still independent living – you come and go as you please – but there are a few supports in place. Meals are in the Dining Room, fully catered by an amazing team of chefs and assistants. And someone puts the fitted sheet on the bed for you, and washes the sheets and towels – you only have to take care of your personal washing.

But there’s more to The Lodge than just the extra support. When you step into the building, the feeling of belonging is all around you. The residents in this part of Mountain View are the epitome of a great community. I had the pleasure of staying two nights in one of the respite rooms a few years ago, and I loved it. So I’m talking from experience when I say how great the Lodge community is.

So, who’s the boss?

I’m glad you asked that question. Aveo Mountain View Retirement Village is owned by a Canadian company called Brookfield. Brookfield is a large reputable company who bought Aveo a few years ago, but kept the Aveo name. Brookfield has made huge improvements since then. At time of writing (May 2023), our community centre is closed while a significant refurbishment happens over the next three months. Most notably will be the addition of a Bar and a Gym, not that I would endorse using both in the same sitting, unless of course you use the Gym first. Having said that, would that defeat the purpose of a workout?, (just asking for a friend…).

There are a lot of people at the helm of Brookfield, but the one that stands out for us is Julie A. Although Julie travels between Brisbane and the Gold Coast a lot, you’ll often see her here at Mountain View. We like to think it’s because she loves our village as much as we do, but realistically, it’s Julie’s job to make sure the villages in her realm have everything they need and are working well. Don’t worry, we’re pretty quick to give Julie our wish list when we want something extra. So far she is rolling her eyes at my suggestion to build a new level on top of the community centre, and I get that that’s a bit of a tall order, but hey, I’ll keep adding it to the wish list – just in case.

Let’s talk about David P

Mountain View is owned by Brookfield, but is managed by our very own David P. It seems that to get a job at Mountain View you have to be named David – there’s no shortage of David’s here. David P is our village manager, David W is our key maintenance guru, and another David is our go-to bus driver.

As a manager, we couldn’t ask for a better boss – well – he’s not like your average boss. David manages the village and looks after the day-to-day things like organising contractors and paying bills, but he does a whole lot more. David is there when you have a question, or need help with something. If he doesn’t have an immediate answer, he knows where to find it. And like any community, things can occasionally go pear-shaped. David doesn’t take sides in any neighbourly disagreements, but finds a solution that works for both sides, in the most respectful way. I think it’s his calm, quiet nature that shines through in times of trouble.

Did I mention that if you throw almost three-hundred random people into a close community, you will have occasional problems? Well, we do, but luckily the problems are few and far between, and most are issues that can be easily fixed. Harder ones might need a little help from an external agency that David is happy to refer residents to, if needed.

Did I mention Ellen, and the girls?

David P is awesome, but he isn’t Superman, and you know what they say:

Behind every great man there’s a great woman – or three – or more…

David has the support of a great team of women in the administration office. Ably assisted by Ellen, his 2IC, David knows that when he can’t be onsite, the village is in good hands. I reckon Ellen knows every resident, all two-hundred-and-seventy-plus of them. And she’s been here long enough to have a good handle on the history of Mountain View as well. Even though she is tucked away in a corner of the main office most of the time, Ellen knows what’s going on around the place, and is a valuable asset to us all.

You call – they’re there

And then we have our fabulous office girls – not being sexist here – it’s just that since I’ve lived here, we’ve only had girls in the office. Our Sherrin and Jess are amazing. Each had huge shoes to fill in taking over from our previous team, but they fill every inch of those big shoes admirably. Well, implying our recently-retired Kerrie’s shoes are big might be a stretch too far, given she is knee-high to a grasshopper, but her heart is bigger than Phar Lap’s. Sherrin and Jess stepped in and stepped up, and do an amazing job. They can be seen zipping around the village in the ‘cart‘ (a glorified golf-buggy) delivering meals, important notes, or attending to residents in distress.

You call – they’re there.

I reckon we’ve all had to call them once or twice when we’ve locked ourself out of our unit – some more than others (just saying…).

Of course, our needs don’t stop once the office closes. Yep – we can even lock ourselves out of our unit after office hours – but never fear – the lovely Linda is likely to be on the night shift making sure we are all okay. Things happen as we age, and sometimes we need a second opinion on whether we need an ambulance, or not. When the office door closes behind our admin team at 5pm, the lovely Linda, or any one of our great after-hours staff, takes over. We all have an emergency call button that works 24/7, if we need it. Regular testing of the button ensures it works effectively, and reminds us of how to use it, just in case.

Mr Fix-It

David W has the big cart – the cart that looks like a miniature ute. And our Dave zips around all day attending to the fix-it jobs. He’s in demand for a lot of things, not the least of which is turning off the water when needed – he knows where all the taps are. Dave’s been here for a long time – not meaning he is getting old – but I reckon he must have started working here right out of school because he is still young. And Dave knows every inch of the village, so he’d better not be thinking of retiring any time soon, unless he moves into one of the units – and trust me – that could be arranged (when he’s old enough).

Pam – The Sales Pitcher

If you want to buy a unit in our village you’ll meet Pam who takes care of sales at Mountain View. Pam is as passionate about the village as the residents are – well – at least 95% of the residents (more about that later…). Pam knows her stuff and will help you make the most informed decision about your unit and the type of contract that is best for you. When you’re all settled into your new home, Pam will deliver a fantastic welcome gift, just to add an even more personal touch to the deal.

So that’s it?

Well, that’s it for the Aveo staff (I hope I didn’t miss anyone), but there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. What turns a great village into a spectacular village is the volunteers who donate their time and energy in so many ways.

When I think of volunteers, there are a lot of people who top the list here at Mountain View.

The village shop is run by a team of great volunteers, ably managed by Coral. I won’t name them individually for fear of missing someone, but they know who they are and should know that without them, our little shop wouldn’t function at all. Six days a week you can buy a loaf of bread, milk, chocolate, or even a home-cooked quiche, as well as heaps of other grocery items. Did I mention chocolate? And for those last minute gifts, there are shelves of home-made craft items for sale.

Bingo is on – and so is Trivia

There is no shortage of activities at Mountain View, arranged and managed by volunteers and the Social Committee. Darrell and Margaret make sure the coffee machine is primed, the biscuit barrel is full, and clean cups are on the shelf. Neville and Janet take care of Trivia on Monday nights, and there’s Bingo every Thursday. Friday night’s Happy Hour is popular, and so is the monthly Morning Tea. If residents can’t find something to do at Mountain View, they’re not reading the monthly newsletter or the notes dropped in their mailbox. The hardest part is fitting all your favourite activities into each week.

Maureen L and Linda deserve a special mention for being the driving force behind the food that abounds at most functions. These girls slave over a hot stove, even on sweltering summer days, to make sure a delicious meal is on the table for Happy Hour and every other event. No need to emphasise how much we love these two fabulous ladies, and the many others who can be found in the kitchen before and after events that involve food.

The kitchen isn’t my happy place – but I can type

And for those of us, like me, who are not at peace in the kitchen, there are plenty of other ways to volunteer. Luckily I can type, so being secretary on the Strata Committee is how I give back to the community.

And on the subject of committees, we have two very important committees at Mountain View – the Strata Committee and the Residents Committee. Both have different functions, but the same goal – they want to make this the best retirement village it can be, and it’s working.

We are a Strata Scheme, but we have Freehold and Leasehold owners (it’s complicated). We have to have a Strata Committee, but the Residents Committee is optional. 2023 is the year the two committees kind of amalgamated, but not officially. They are still two separate committees but due to some exceptional circumstances, the two committees have an intertwining of members. There are seven members on the Residents Committee, and six on the Strata Committee, but three members are on both committees.

Two committees – one goal.

Peter is the Chairperson on the Residents Committee and a member of the Strata Committee. Ken is Treasurer on the Strata Committee and a member of the Residents Committee (and the Social Committee). I’m Secretary and Chairperson on the Strata Committee and a member of the Residents Committee. Conflict of interest, you might ask? Nope – not when we are all working towards the same goal. If we had different agendas there could be potential problems, but our agendas are the same – we want what is best for every resident – we might just have different ways of getting there.

The Strata Committee makes decisions about common property issues, by-laws, and finances. The Residents Committee directs questions and concerns from residents to the most relevant source for resolution. By working together the two committees can expedite the process for a faster solution.

On both committees is a team of dedicated residents who give up their time to attend meetings, and to represent fellow-residents on matters that need attention and/or decisions.

Who’s on the Strata Committee?

• Me (Chairperson and Secretary)
• Ken M (Treasurer)
• David P (Village manager)
• Bev H
• Peter W
• Wendy P

All members turn up each month to vote on issues that will impact on their neighbours and themselves, and they do the job brilliantly. The committee members are also involved in village life – they attend functions and volunteer in other capacities as well.

And the Residents Committee?

• Peter W (Chairperson)
• Cheryl (Secretary)
• Wendy W
• Alan W
• Neville E
• Ken M
• Me

All members are active in the community and volunteer in many ways, because if we are making decisions for the residents of Mountain View, we need to know the residents of Mountain View.

But there is another level to management here at Mountain View, and that is the support of our Strata Manager at Body Corporate Services (BCS), Tweed Heads Branch. If we didn’t have Kellie and her team backing us, our job would be almost impossible to manage. We self-managed for a few years and trust me, we wouldn’t want to do that again.

Not happy, Jan

As mentioned earlier, there are a few people who don’t seem to have embraced village life as easily or enthusiastically as the rest of us, but they are a very small number. Perhaps they regret moving here, or have forgotten why they made that decision, or perhaps they didn’t understand the contract before signing it. But I’d like to think they love it here as much as we do – they just don’t show it. And on that note, it is worth mentioning that you buy a lifestyle when you buy into a retirement village, not necessarily an investment. Having said that, there are now a number of contracts to choose from that might ease your mind for the future, or your children’s inheritance. Pam, and/or Aveo, would be happy to explain them to you.

United we stand

The two committees are united and dedicated to serving every resident at Mountain View to the best of our ability. We started 2023 on a peaceful path and that’s how we plan to continue. Problems are dealt with through robust and constructive discussion – that’s how the Strata Committee has operated for many years, and our Residents Committee feels the same. We don’t all have the same opinion or agree on everything, and that’s healthy for any committee, but we openly and respectfully discuss all options to find the best solution.

And it is the team effort, from the top of Brookfield to the newest resident, that makes it all happen. It wouldn’t work without Julie A’s input, the dedication of our management team, or the hard work of all the volunteers at Mountain View.

Cooperation and respect are the keys to peaceful living in a retirement community.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) uses eight key action areas to define an age-friendly community, and therefore the quality of life and wellbeing of an aging population:

So how does Mountain View stack up as an age-friendly community?

Mountain View has all eight areas covered. On twenty-eight acres of bushland there is an abundance of open spaces, a community garden, pool, bowling green, and soon, a bar and a gym (indoors). The village bus is available for social outings, as well as the town bus right on our doorstep. But if more specialised transport is needed, it is available.

Social activities are plentiful, and there are volunteers willing to teach new skills including art, technology, and family history. The monthly newsletter keeps everyone informed of activities, as well as letterbox drops for urgent matters. We even have our own closed Facebook page with one-hundred-and-one members (and growing…).

Bookworms are well catered for with an overstocked library – yep – our volunteer librarians often donate the overflow to other agencies, and we’ve even published our own anthology of resident’s writing.

Some residents maintain part-time employment in the wider community, but still find time to participate in village activities.

Government assisted support

There is no shortage of available services aimed at keeping us in our own home longer. Housekeeping, shopping trips, podiatry, pharmacy delivery service, and a lot more are accessed by residents in ILUs.

Buying a unit at Mountain View is an affordable option, which is probably why Pam often has people on a wait-list for an available unit to buy – units tend to sell fast these days. Perhaps our little piece of paradise is no longer a secret?

Respect and social inclusion probably get the biggest tick on the WHO list here at Mountain View. There are too many activities and events to mention here, but if there isn’t something that suits you, you can start your own. Many residents form groups of like-minded neighbours to play cards, or mahjong, or just meet for BYO at the Gazebo on Saturday night.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

But it is the mutual respect that stands out the most. Neighbours take care of each other – whether it be cooking a meal for someone who isn’t well, or driving someone to a medical appointment. There is always someone who will check in on you to make sure you are okay, and if the Admin team know you are not well – they’ll give you a call to see if there’s anything you need. A meal can be delivered daily by Jess or Sherrin, if ordered from The Lodge kitchen for a small cost. And trust me, I’ve used the service. During Covid19 lockdown in 2020, I arranged for a hot meal every day for a few weeks so I didn’t have to worry about groceries or cooking. I mean, lockdown was a busy time, right? That’s when we were baking sourdough, restoring old furniture, and learning how to make rag-quilts, so there was no time for cooking (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…).

The time is now!

So if you are contemplating retirement, do yourself a favour and investigate an Aveo retirement village near you – or come and visit ours. We’d love to show you how good life can be when you make the decision on where you are going to spend your retirement years. If you don’t make the decision soon enough, someone else might make it for you, and it mightn’t end well.

Note: My heartfelt thanks to everyone who makes Aveo Mountain View Retirement Village the best place to live. There are hundreds more behind the scenes, including Bob the Builder, and Stewart – our favourite electrician, but know that you are all appreciated. And to every resident who has, or continues to volunteer in any capacity at Mountain View, it is you who makes the biggest difference.

Thank you!

You might think I’m biased about living in paradise but it seems others feel the same way.

Take a look at these amazing videos of the place that is home to so many of us. We live in 28 acres of bushland and wake up to the call of kookaburras, magpies and whip birds every morning. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Gavin is our resident videographer and has made fantastic videos of Mountain View, so make sure you check them all out.

Thank you Gavin, for highlighting our place in paradise.

We’ve done it!

Our Mountain View Anthology is now live on Amazon for pre-order (Kindle version only at the moment – but print copy will be available soon).

Last year Mary, Wendy and I asked residents to send us their stories for the inaugural volume of our anthology.

And yes, we may have underestimated how much work is needed to edit, type and format those contributions, but we’ve finally arrived.

We were ambitious enough to think we’d have the book all done by Christmas, but that certainly didn’t happen. So here we are mid-2021, and we are now live on Amazon.

Having never published an e-book before, it has been a very steep learning curve. Trust me, Volume Two will be a lot quicker and easier.

Having said that, we are now looking for stories and poems for Volume Two from the residents of Aveo Mountain View, so sharpen up those pencils and start writing.

Send your contributions to:

retired@mountainview-living.com

Or drop them into the Office.

I know you’ll love reading our collection of poems and stories as much as we have.

We all have a story to tell, and we want to hear yours.

June 2021

Despite the early morning start, and an early morning storm, a group of residents set off in the bus for Hastings Point last Tuesday.

It seems that Hastings Point now has a Marine Discovery Centre.

Now that on its own is good enough, but when they combine an awesome lunch with the deal – well – heck – who’s not going to take advantage of that.

And that’s exactly what a bus-load of our residents did.

From all accounts, the day was a great success. In fact, there is talk of us needing a bigger bus to accommodate more residents.

How good does the food look? It would be worth a trip to Hasings Point just for the Sticky Date Pudding (one of my favourites…).

Once again, our hard-working Social Committee did well.

But someone who is always outstanding, is Coral.

I don’t know how Coral keeps going, but thankfully she does. Her organisation for the Bus Trip meant that everything went well, nobody was left behind and everyone arrived home safely.

Coral, you are a Legend!

The remnants of COVID-19 restrictions still linger here at Mountain View – and in the wider community. With the Anzac Day march cancelled again this year, Anzac Day 2021 was almost a replica of 2020.

Neighbours gathered in driveways with lighted candles and remembered brave men and women who have served in wars past and present.

Russell, assisted by Jim, organised a beautiful Dawn Service at the flagpole.

Georgina had placed candles around the flagpole, and residents gathered with their own candles to remember Veterans, past and present, on this special day.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests were invited to have tea, coffee and Anzac Biscuits in the Community Centre, organised by Georgina, with the assistance of Coral.

As well as those who attended driveway ceremonies, there was a significant number of Veterans at our Dawn Service.

Audrey’s Story

The highlight for me was a chat with Audrey, after the Service.

Audrey is in her nineties, but she still remembers some of the better times of serving in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during World War II.

She told me that enlisting was exciting for her, and the girls she served with. But like the words in the Redgum song, ‘she was only nineteen’, and it was the first time she (and others) had lived away from family. It was a time of camaraderie and friendship.

Then, as now, Audrey was petite, and she told of her disappointment in not having a uniform for the first few weeks because they didn’t have one to fit her; her uniform had to be specially made.

She also told of the excitement that surged through the Base in Melbourne when cigarettes were in stock in the Canteen. She would rush down there with the other girls and hand over sixpence for a packet of Craven “A”. But Audrey laughed when she explained that she doesn’t smoke now and she didn’t smoke then; she was just caught up in the excitement.

Audrey’s job was in Signals; she would type out the Morse Code that relayed information about the movement of planes.

They deserve our ongoing gratitude.

We not only remember and honour Veterans like Audrey on Anzac Day, but every day that we wake up in our democratic nation, in relative peace.

It is with gratitude that we thank:

• Russell – for organising the Dawn Service for Anzac Day 2021
• Jim – for assisting Russell at the Dawn Service
• Georgina – for organising the candles, seating and refreshments
• Coral – for making and serving tea and coffee
• Marilyn – for allowing the use of her wall-hanging for the Ceremony
• Our Veterans – for proudly wearing their medals and attending the Dawn Service
• Our Residents – for braving the chilly morning to attend the Dawn Service for Anzac Day 2021 at Mountain View
• All Veterans and Serving Members – past, present and future

Lest We Forget

I’m sitting on my verandah listening to the sounds of life around me, while the washing is still in the machine waiting to be pegged on the line.

I can’t tear myself away from the absolute bliss of living in Mountain View.

There is the sound of water soaking the garden below me as Joan tends the flowers that frame her unit.

Dot is engaged in a phone-conversation with her family.

Nancy called out to Jerry and thanked him for the garden items he gave her that she cooked for dinner last night.

Laughter rings out as neighbours meet and greet each other.

These are the sounds of life at Mountain View.

There is so much happiness here.

And there are so many residents who are more than willing to help those in need, whether it be a cup of flour or a shoulder to cry on; we are here for each other.

This is why Mountain View is paradise to all of us (well, almost all of us – there are a few people who would rather be somewhere else).

And that is why the washing is still in the machine, because I would rather be here on the verandah, listening to the happiness around me.

Have a great day here in Paradise, at Mountain View!!

After a bit of a dry spell (thanks, COVID-19 – Not!) we’ve hit the road running in 2021. The new Social Committee is up and running and things are looking up. We are all set to Share The Love!

The new team boasts a couple of well-known residents who have had years of experience in organising events. Coral, Christine, and Ray have all been around the block a few times and know exactly how to get things organised.

But don’t underestimate the new members.

Stella, Neila and Dave have years of experience between them and have brought fresh ideas to the team.

And me? Well, I’m there to help Stella manage the paperwork; the meeting notes and correspondence.

At the first meeting that was held the day after the AGM, ideas started flowing and we decided how the team would work best. The key to a successful committee is to remember there is no I in TEAM. We have delegated positions for the smooth running of events and meetings, but decisions are made by the team at committee meetings.

Before the meeting was over we had planned one event and one bus trip for February and a couple of probables for March and beyond.

So what event would you have in February?

Valentines Day, of course!

Share The Love on February 14th – 12.30pm

The hearts are cut out and laminated and love is in the air.

Image by autumnsgoddess0 from Pixabay

The beef is ordered and the potatoes peeled (well – not quite – but Noeline has that bit organised)

Vegetarians will enjoy the BEST Lasagne on the planet, cooked with love by Lucid Cafe in Murwillumbah.

Christine has the Tiramisu recipe out and has delegated the jelly and fruit dessert to a fabulous volunteer (thanks Linda).

And residents had better wear their dancing shoes because Heartbeat will be providing the entertainment.

Watch this space…. for news about the February Bus Trip…

Wayne Bennett, former coach of the Brisbane Broncos, published a book in 2002 called ‘Don’t Die With the Music In You’. Apparently nobody was more surprised than Bennett when the book became an outstanding success and grossed more than a million dollars in sales in the first eight months.

Bennett didn’t write his book for financial gain; he wrote it to tell the story of his love for family and football.

A quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes provided the inspirational title for Bennett’s book, and it is a quote we would all do well to live by.

Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Bennett received letters from hundreds of readers who told of life-changing events from reading his book, including:

• a schoolboy bullied at school found the courage to confront his tormentors
• a Vietnam Veteran found the inspiration to turn his life around
• an elderly man found strength while reading the book to his dying wife

Bennett just wanted to tell his story, and that story will continue to inspire thousands of readers for years to come.

The story that is in all of us must be told sooner rather than later, because none of us knows when our clock will strike midnight for the last time.

For some of us, later never comes.

Don’t think your story isn’t important…

It Is!

Bennett’s book wasn’t of epic proportions; his story was told in 192 pages measuring 205mm x 135mm. And that’s not a lot of words – as successful books go.

Your story could be less words than Bennett’s and still have the same effect as his words had, and continue to have.

You might not have coached a successful football team, but your story is just as important. It’s the people you have met on your life journey and the ideals that brought you to where you are today that matter.

Have you lived in the same house, on the same street, in the same city all your life?

The world you navigated within those walls, and in your neighboured as it evolved, will resonate with others:

• What kept you close to home?
• What changes happened around you in your home, your street, your neighbourhood?
• Who are or were the significant people in your life?
• Are there regrets?

Were you a wanderer?

• How far from home did you roam?
• Why did you leave?
• How old were you when you left?
• Where did you move to?
• Did you go back to your hometown?
• Are there regrets?

Do your children know?

How much does your family know about what inspired you?

What will they wonder about, and wish they knew, when you are gone?

I’m retired now and have the time to write my parent’s stories, but there is so much I don’t know about them.

If only they had written their stories before they left us; if only I’d asked more questions. Now there is nobody left to ask about their early lives.

Bennett‘s story made more than a million dollars

Kathie and I met on the first day of high school and have been best-friends ever since, but Kathie lives in Melbourne and I’m in Northern New South Wales. With the aid of technology we are writing our stories alone, but together.

Like Bennett, we don’t expect millions of dollars in sales or even movie rights to our book (although we are open to fame and fortune); we will be successful (and grateful) if our book only reaches our immediate families.

Our families will find out why I didn’t become a smoker, thanks to life-lessons under the school hall taught by thirteen year old friends.

They will find out the real reason Kathie left home to join the Air Force at eighteen.

And they may even discover the raw emotions that led Kathie and I to marry our respective spouses, only to abandon our marriages later in life.

What memories will you share?

Do your children know how their parents met?

Have you shared the pain of leaving loved ones behind to travel to battle-fields far from home?

Will your great-great-grandchildren know about the ancestors who forged the way for their existence? And do they know it might be in their DNA to follow the same occupation or life-path you followed decades earlier?

Now is the time to tell your story

We should all take the lead of Wayne Bennett and pen our story before it is too late.

Even scrappy notes left behind in a folder could fill in the blanks when your descendants are writing their family history.

A thumb-drive that contains the recorded history of your lifetime could be gold to future generations. Hearing your voice could provide sweet comfort to someone mourning your loss. And the retelling of significant events could provide the bridge between your era and theirs.

Write it down, record it on storage media, scratch out some notes – it doesn’t matter how you tell your story, just tell it!

Writing and publishing ‘Don’t Die With The Music In You’ means Wayne Bennett won’t take his story with him when he departs this earthly sphere.

And neither should You!

Or – how we used to communicate before email…

I don’t know about you, but I wrote a lot of letters when I was young. We lived in a reasonably remote part of the world and most of my extended family lived in the city. So snail mail, as we now call it, was the only way to communicate with my grandparents.

Did I mention we didn’t even have a telephone back then?

In the course of writing a lot of letters, I managed to find a Pen Pal who lived out the back-of-beyond in the Northern Territory. I can’t remember her name, but the name of her father has never been forgotten.

I was still in primary school at the time, so I was probably about ten years old.

My father’s name was Tom.

My pen-pal’s father’s name was Left Hand Jack.

I looked forward to her letter the minute my letter to her was signed, sealed and posted. Patience is a virtue, and one that I probably should have been cultivating a little more earnestly.

I watched the mailbox like a hawk, eagerly awaiting her reply.

Sometimes her letter would begin with… “I haven’t written because we went walkabout…”.

I loved having a pen-pal, and it seems history might be repeating itself.

This morning while checking my emails, I discovered an initiative launched by Australia Post to connect seniors in Australia the old fashioned, snail mail way.

While the system isn’t open to individuals, it is accessible by a representative of an over-55 organisation. Well, who could resist?

I promptly filled out the form and emailed it off. It’s a little ironic that I didn’t have to hand-write the form and post it. But then this could be the ideal merge of both worlds – email and snail-mail.

I’ve signed us up in the hope that those in the Village who don’t have ready access to technology, or just love the art of hand-writing a letter, will start to communicate with seniors across this vast land of ours.

And since restricted-movements are going to be a part of our lives for a while yet, how good would it be to find out what life is like in other retirement villages?

Australia Post even supplies fancy paper templates that I can print off for anyone who wants to get onboard the pen-pal project.

My application to get us connected with pen-pals has been acknowledged, so I’ll keep you posted (pardon the pun….).

Acknowledgement: Images above are courtesy of members of Pixabay.com. Thank you Pixabay for your outstanding service.

If you Google ‘how to build a website’, you’ll find a lot of information, and courses, both online and face-to-face. The cost ranges from free to very expensive.

I didn’t Google ‘how to build a website’ – and I didn’t race off to my nearest college to learn how.

I just did it!

And if I can do it, you can do it.

When I closed the door of my classroom for the last time in April 2016, I was sixty-six years old and had chalked up over thirty years of teaching.

You can’t work fifteen hours a day, five days a week – to suddenly sit on your touché and do nothing. When I first thought about retirement, I thought about what I could learn once I didn’t have to go to work each day.

It’s all in the name

Building a website was on my list of things to do in retirement, so I bought a couple of domain names, just in case. It seemed everyone had a blog and I wanted one too, even though I wasn’t quite sure what a blog was.

The first time I raised the question of my pending website with my web-developer son, the response was “Go to WordPress.com – it’s so easy anyone can do it. You’ll be right”. 

I can’t say that I wasn’t tech savvy at the time, but loading a few Apps onto an iPad and reviewing them in the school newsletter, isn’t exactly high tech. 

The gauntlet was down – the challenge was on. 

Once I’d retired from teaching, I had all the time in the world to learn. So I logged onto  www.WordPress.com, rolled up my sleeves, and got stuck into it. 

It was flabbergastingly easy! Oh, and perhaps I should mention my learning style…

‘if all else fails, read the instructions’ . 

Through trial and error and a few Google searches, I figured it out.

I remember the first time I typed in www.havandra.wordpress.com, and my new website stared back at me. It was an amazing feeling! I’ve kept that old site as a reminder of how far I’ve come. Maybe one day I’ll find time to fix that old site up a bit – now that I know more about building websites. Having said that, it still works just fine the way it is.

Follow Me! I Know a Shortcut!!

I was proud of my first attempt, but I look back now and cringe, given what I have learned since then. I used a lot of text, rarely any headings or sub-headings, not nearly enough white-space, and very few photos. 

This is what my blog looks like now www.maureendurney.com

And before the website police start jumping up and down, I know it isn’t perfect. But I built it myself! And I haven’t had any formal training in how to build a website.

The buzz I got from seeing my first WordPress website up and running (the .com version) inspired me to take the next step. I had bought a few GoDaddy domain names before I retired, including MaureenDurney.com, so now I was ready to build a couple of .org websites. 

WordPress.com is a F-R-E-E version of the popular website-platform. You can build and maintain a website without any cost (apart from your ridiculously inexpensive Domain Name).

---

Racking it up a notch

With a little help from my son for the hosting part, I built a website and started my blog. 

WordPress.org gives you more flexibility to customise your website, but you will need to pay to have it hosted. And you will need a Domain Name.

Hosting is the part that gives your website its ‘street address’ out there in cyberspace. Because there’s no point in building a website if nobody can see it. Until you get the hosting part sorted, the only place you’ll see your website is on your computer, or whatever device you use to build it.

When I Googled ‘how to write a blog’, there were heaps of options! But nearly all started with:

Choose a descriptive name…

Well – I’d blown that one before I’d even started.

Your Domain Name is the name of your website. If you think of websites you’ve probably visited, you’ll see how the name of the website describes what they do or who they are.

• Sydney Roosters
• Cats the Musical

My site is called MaureenDurney.com.

That doesn’t exactly tell you a lot, unless you are a member of my family or a friend who Googles my name to see what comes up.

GoDaddy is a popular site for finding the right Domain Name.

As soon as I signed the contract to buy a unit in a Retirement Village (even though I wasn’t retired at the time), I bought the domain name ‘MountainView-Living.com’. I had no idea what I would do with it, but figured I could write a blog about what it was like to live there.

Out of the four websites I’ve built, that’s the one domain name I got right. It at least features the name of the village I live in, so you’d expect the blog to have something to do with the place.

Get Hosting  ✓

My son helped me with the hosting. He had the option of including the hosting of my site alongside sites that he had built. GoDaddy has a package plan where you can host multiple sites under the one plan – and that’s what my son had.

There are a lot of Hosting companies out there and WordPress has a list of companies that are very WordPress friendly, including many of the companies that sponsor WordPress WordCamps around the world.

I’ve since upgraded one of my sites to WPEngine hosting. They are one of the world leaders in web-hosting and are also a major sponsor of WordPress WordCamps and Meetups. 

Customise your site ✓

WordPress has this part covered. And this really is the fun part. 

I started by choosing a WordPress theme. WordPress provides heaps of themes that are free to use.  And you can test-drive them to see how it will look on your site before locking it in. 

Themes have a lot of built-in features to make your life easier. At the start of my website journey, I left it all up to the theme. I chose the theme, installed and activated it, and that was it. Done!

I’ve since learned how to tweak the theme a little, but I mostly stick to the already installed features of the themes I use.

This is what my blog looks like now www.maureendurney.com

There are lots of YouTube videos that will step you through the process of getting your WordPress website up and running.

And Remember: if I can do it, so can you!

Wendy and I have started a closed FB Group for all residents and staff at Mountain View.

Just search Facebook for Mountain View Murwillumbah, and you’ll find us.

You have to apply to become a member and answer three simple questions – then an Administrator will approve your request – depending on your answers…

You’ll then be part of our very own Facebook community.

Don’t forget to read and agree to our guidelines. We have a three-strike policy – three inappropriate posts – and you’ll be out. Oh, and the inappropriate posts will be deleted.

Our focus is on community and support. No bullying or derogatory comments, and no spamming. We’re all here to live a peaceful life and enjoy our retirement.

See you on FB!